The Bernese Mountain Dog is also known as the Berner Sennenhund or the Bouvier Bernois. This breed of dog is mainly found in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Originally they carried out the task of pulling small cars or wagons. The physical structure of the breed can be described as a black body with the chest part and is white in color along with a tan or rust colored marking over the eyes. The breed’s weight ranges from 85 pounds to 120 pounds (38-55 kg). The height of the dog is between 24 and 28 inches (61 cm – 71 cm). The life of the dog ranges between 7 and 12 years. Berner can be easily recognized by its distinctive tricolor pattern. Berner’s eyes are dark brown and shaped like an almond. The difference between the male Berner and the female is that the male is larger, but both are very strong. They are very friendly both with humans and with other breeds of dogs. They get along well with animals such as cats, horses, etc. They can be easily trained. If they are treated harshly, they do not respond well, however, the Bernese Mountain Dog is eager to cheer up its owner. They are very child friendly. It can be concluded that the breed is very patient, stable and friendly in temperament.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are used to sit on the owner’s feet or to lie under people’s legs while they are sitting. The calm temperament of Bernese Mountain Dogs makes them a natural for pulling small carts. If proper training is provided to the Berners, they enjoy taking the kids out. Despite their many qualities, Bernese Mountain Dogs grow very slowly. They behave like puppies until the age of 2-3 years. A health survey conducted in Denmark, UK, USA reveals that the lifespan of this breed is very short, compared to a breed of the same size. Berner suffers from deadly cancer (the leading cause of dog death) more than the other breeds. Different types of cancer such as malignant histiocytosis, mast cell tumor, lyposarcoma, osteosarcoma and fibro sarcoma are observed in Berner’s mountain dogs. In a study in the UK, 6% of burners died due to arthritis, hip and crossover dysplasia. The musculoskeletal problem is found in Berner almost three times more than in other dog breeds. It can be said that the berner owner must be prepared to handle a dog that may have mobility problems.
